Association of IgG anti‐GD1a antibody with severe Guillain–Barré syndrome

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Abstract
We earlier reported cases of 2 patients with severe acute Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with high‐IgG anti‐GD1a antibody titer. We now have investigated the autoantibody against GD1a or GM1 in 37 GBS patients using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and have found a statistically significant association between IgG anti‐GD1a antibody and the severity of the disease (need of a respiratory for more than 1 month and a poor functional prognosis 3 months after neurologic onset). An autopsy which showed severe GBS associated with IgG anti‐GD1a antibody produced the following findings: (1) severe axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination of peripheral nerves; (2) lymphocytic infiltration; and (3) marked central chromatolysis of the lower motoneurons. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.